ALBANY -- A 24-year-old Colonie man who became "friends" with hundreds of teenage girls on Facebook is headed to prison for 12 to 13 years for the rape of four underage girls in his home.

David Bradt, who supplied alcohol and marijuana to some victims, admitted to four counts of third-degree rape during an appearance Wednesday before Judge Thomas Breslin in Albany County Court.

He had sex with the victims -- ages 15 and 16 -- in his Maplewood Avenue home between July 2 and Oct. 10.

Investigators said Bradt started by "friending" one teenager on Facebook -- and then "friended" all of that girl's friends. The secret predator then continued to stockpile teenage friends in what police described as a pyramid-type scheme.

On Facebook, he appeared with a tattooed bare chest and underwear worn above low-slung pants. And he would use the site to become friends on the Internet with more than 700 teenage girls and young women, most between the ages of 15 and 20.

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Bradt was arrested Oct. 16 after the mother of a 16-year-old girl became concerned over unusual text messages her daughter was receiving from an older man. While that woman's daughter had not been victimized, she called police, which led investigators to Bradt.

At the time of Bradt's arrest, Colonie police said, they found his desktop computer displaying a MapQuest website with directions to a home in Glenville for a meeting with another underage girl.

During his plea on Wednesday, Breslin stressed to Bradt that if he had any doubts whatsoever, he should not plead guilty. Bradt continued with the plea as his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Molly Rhodes, and Assistant District Attorney Christina Calabrese, who prosecuted the case, looked on.

Bradt will receive no less than 12 years and no more than 13 years, under the plea. He also will be given 10 years of post-release supervision.

Under the deal, Bradt must register as a sex offender. He waived his right to appeal the convictions, and the victims will be given of orders of protection. The plea also does not cover any potential allegations should further victims come forward.

"This case illustrates that there are many predators using these sites to identify their targets," District Attorney David Soares stated in a news release. "Parents need to police their children's Internet activities. I would hate to think of how many more victims we would have in this case if not for the actions of one suspicious parent."